Would you like to know how to recognize the rattle warbler, where the bird spends the winter and how you can support it? You can find the answers to these questions in our species portrait.
The rattle warbler (Sylvia curruca), also known as the fence mosquito, is the smallest of our native warblers. Like its larger relatives, the rattle warbler is quite inconspicuous and likes to hide in dense vegetation. You can therefore recognize them, just like them Blackcap or the Garden warbler, preferably on their singing. The rattling bird's voice is reminiscent of the rattling of a mill wheel, which gave the bird the popular name "little miller". How you can clearly recognize the rattle warbler, when the songbird can be observed with us and everything, You can find out what else you need to know about our smallest warbler here in our big one Characteristics.
contents
- Rattle warbler: fact sheet
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This is how you recognize the rattle warbler
- How does the rattle warbler song sound?
- What do rattle warblers eggs look like?
- Which habitat does the rattle warbler prefer?
- Where does the rattle warbler build its nest?
- When is the breeding season of the rattle warbler?
- Where does the rattle warbler spend the winter?
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Support the rattle warbler in the garden: this is how it works
- What do rattle warblers eat?
- Which nesting aids are suitable for rattle warblers?
- How can you give the rattle warbler additional support?
Rattle warbler: fact sheet
| size | About 12 cm |
| weight | Approx. 12-16 g |
| Breeding season | May June |
| lifespan | Up to 11 years |
| habitat | Semi-open landscapes, parks or gardens |
| Feed preference | insects |
| Threats | Decline in food and living space |
This is how you recognize the rattle warbler
The rattle warbler is a rather plainly colored songbird. Its gray-brown upper side is in clear contrast to its light underside. This contrast between the gray head and the snow-white throat is most evident. Some individuals also have a touched, light stripe over the eyes. However, this feature is rare. Male and female rattle warblers are colored the same and the young animals also look very similar to their parents after a short time.
Note: It is very easy to confuse the rattle warbler with the closely related warbler. This is characterized by a slightly lighter, red-brown upper side and an overall less contrasting one Plumage off, but the distinction between the two species is not always easy, especially in poor lighting conditions easy.
How does the rattle warbler song sound?
The eponymous song of the rattle warbler consists of a wooden "tell-tell-tell-tell-tell ...". The birdsong can often be heard from dense, low vegetation.
What do rattle warblers eggs look like?
Rattle warbler females lay between three and five light-colored, dark-speckled eggs. These are embedded in a bowl-shaped nest made of stalks, fine roots and other plant fibers.
Which habitat does the rattle warbler prefer?
The rattle warbler prefers semi-open landscapes as a habitat. These include forest edges with adjacent open spaces, cultural landscapes with isolated hedges or groups of trees, large, wild gardens or parks and cemeteries.
Where does the rattle warbler build its nest?
The rattle warbler builds its nest in dense vegetation. Mostly hedges, bushes or even conifers are used for this. They often build the open nest just a few meters above the ground.
When is the breeding season of the rattle warbler?
Rattle warblers breed between May and June. During this time they create one or two broods. The breeding itself as well as the rearing and feeding of the young is teamwork for rattle warblers - both of them Sexes take care of the offspring, which after a breeding period of about twelve days are naked and blind Eggs hatch. The young rattle warblers stay in the nest for two weeks and are carefully looked after by their bird parents. After that they are already fully grown and make their first flight attempts.
Where does the rattle warbler spend the winter?
As long-distance migrants, rattle warblers set out early in the year to cover long distances to their wintering quarters. These are located in East Africa, where the insectivores find enough food even in winter. The little warblers don't come back to us until around April. The hardships they have to take on these long journeys, how the birds orientate themselves during the migration and many other exciting facts on the subject of "Migratory birds“Can be found in our special article.
Support the rattle warbler in the garden: this is how it works
In our increasingly monotonous landscape, dense vegetation and other breeding grounds for rattle warblers have been declining for a long time. And the persistent decline in insects is also a problem for the songbirds. You can find out here how you can support the rattle warbler in your own home.
What do rattle warblers eat?
Rattle warblers are mostly insectivores, but they also sometimes eat berries and fruits. However, you cannot lure the small garden birds with classic birdseed, which mainly consists of grains and seeds.
On the other hand, one can do a much better job of rattle warblers insect friendly garden support - by doing without chemical sprays or creating a flowering meadow. With our Plantura beneficial insect magnets For example, you can implement such a flowering meadow very quickly and easily and create a true paradise for a large number of small garden visitors without much effort.
Which nesting aids are suitable for rattle warblers?
Classic closed nesting boxes, how to use them Jackdaws or Great tits attach are not suitable for rattle warblers. The free brooders prefer open nests, which they make themselves from all kinds of plant fibers. However, you can still support the songbirds in the garden - for example by letting your hedges and bushes grow wild and bushy in order to offer the birds well-protected nesting sites.
How can you give the rattle warbler additional support?
During hot summer days, water is a valuable resource for garden birds. With a Bird bath you can therefore support a large number of other bird species in addition to the rattle warbler. A simple flat bowl or a trivet is suitable for this - it does not necessarily have to be an impressive trough. However, make sure to regularly clean any form of water point, because at high Otherwise, temperatures can quickly turn them into breeding grounds for bacteria and other pathogens to develop. It is therefore best to clean your water points daily on hot days.
Another long-distance migrant who is only at home with us in summer and who enjoys a rich supply of insects during this time is the House martin. Get to know this garden bird a little better in our detailed species portrait.
